The numbers
26 weeks × 5 days × $200.94 = $26,122.20 before tax. The ATO adds 12% super — $3,134.66 — to your fund after the financial year ends.
PPL is taxable. If you also earned $20,000 in salary in the same income year (say, before the baby arrived), the PPL lifts your income to about $46,000. The extra tax and Medicare comes to about $4,971, so you keep about $21,151.
After-tax PPL by other income (2026-27)
| Other income in 2026-27 | Tax on the PPL | PPL after tax |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $488 | $25,634 |
| $10,000 | $2,711 | $23,411 |
| $20,000 | $4,971 | $21,151 |
| $40,000 | $8,176 | $17,946 |
| $60,000 | $8,459 | $17,663 |
Who counts as a single parent?
You don’t have a partner when you claim, or your partner can’t care for the child. If you become partnered later, the days already used stay yours. Services Australia may ask for details when you claim.
Tips
- Claim early: you can lodge up to 97 days before the expected birth in myGov.
- Ask for tax to be withheld if you also work during the year — otherwise you might get a bill at tax time.
- Flexible days: you can take the 26 weeks in one block or in pieces, any time within 2 years of the birth.
- Employer leave: PPL is on top of any paid leave your employer gives.
Other support for single parents
You may also be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A and Part B, which are paid alongside Parental Leave Pay. Part B is designed for single parents and families with one main income. The Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement are not paid while you receive PPL for the same child, but may apply later if you don’t take PPL.
Child care subsidy can help when you return to work, and Services Australia can estimate your entitlements before the baby arrives. Keep an eye on your income estimates: FTB is based on the whole year’s family income, so update it if your plans change.
If your employer also pays parental leave, you can usually take it before, after or at the same time as government PPL — they don’t cancel each other out. Ask HR how their policy fits with the 26 weeks.
Key Paid Parental Leave figures (checked 5 November 2026)
| Item | From 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Daily rate | $200.94 ($1,004.70 a week) |
| Weeks per family | 26 (130 days) |
| Reserved per parent (couples) | 4 weeks |
| Super | 12% paid by the ATO |
| Income test | $186,487 individual / $386,525 family (2025-26 income) |
FAQ
How much PPL does a single parent get?
All 26 weeks: $26,122.20 before tax, plus $3,134.66 in super, for children born or adopted from 1 July 2026.
How much is 26 weeks of PPL after tax?
About $21,151 if you had $20,000 of other income in 2026-27; about $25,634 with no other income.
Can a single parent use the partner’s reserved weeks?
Yes. The 4-week reservation only applies to couples.
Sources (checked 5 November 2026): Services Australia “Paid Parental Leave scheme rate changes for the new financial year” (from 1 July 2026: $26.44 an hour, $200.94 a day, $1,004.70 a week, $26,122.20 for 26 weeks); Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 and Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Act 2023 (26 weeks and reserved weeks from 1 July 2026); Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Adding Superannuation for a More Secure Retirement) Act 2024 (12% super); Services Australia income test (2024-25 limits $180,007 / $373,094, indexed; 2025-26 limits $186,487 / $386,525 as published for 2026-27 claims); ATO 2026-27 tax rates.